Bolt Says 9.4 is Realistic

[SprintsFTW19]

As I believe in the concept of "innocent until proven guilty," I thought it would be appropriate to give some attention to a sprinter who is faster than Gatlin without cheating.

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/moresports/bolt-thinks-its-possible-to-run-100-meters-in-94-seconds/388615

After he won the gold at the 09 WCs in 9.58, Bolt mentioned that he thought he could run 9.4. At the time, while not putting anything past Bolt, I thought it was more a adrenaline fueled fantasy statement made in the excitement of just winning a gold and breaking the 9.6 barrier.

Looks like he's really serious about it, but he isn't making any guarantees.

If he really can run 9.4, it opens up another discussion. I know his 100m splits weren't perfectly even, but his 100m pr is 9.58 and he averaged 9.595 per 100 over 200m. If he drops a tenth of a second in London and hits 9.48, will we see the first (and probably only, for a very long time) sub 19 200?!

Thoughts? Is 9.50 the fastest Bolt or anyone else can dream of going? Is it insane to think Bolt has a chance at 9.4, or more insane to say any mark is out of Bolt's reach?

[Zen Miler]

it's crazy to think about but I don't see sub-19 being completely out of reach. especially if he lowers that 100m world record again.

[The_Conductor]

I don't think Bolt needs to go sub 9.50 to run sub 19.00; I just think he needs to be fresh. If he didn't have to run seven races before the 200m final at a Championships meet, I think he could do it. If you watch his 19.19 from Berlin you can see that he is visibly fatigued at the end of the race.

[stopPRE1236]

I wounder what it is like to be able to set goals that no one thought was humanly possible and then do it. I would love to see him go sub 19 and sub 9.5

[Show'EmTheRopes]

it's crazy to think about but I don't see sub-19 being completely out of reach. especially if he lowers that 100m world record again.

Very much agree. I can't put a limit on this guy right now. He dropped the WR from 9.76 to 9.58 in a period spanning less than two years... Oh yeah, his first two years running the event. No one would have thought that.

I don't think Bolt needs to go sub 9.50 to run sub 19.00; I just think he needs to be fresh. If he didn't have to run seven races before the 200m final at a Championships meet, I think he could do it. If you watch his 19.19 from Berlin you can see that he is visibly fatigued at the end of the race.

QFE! I was thinking the same exact thing! I think Bolt can go under 19 even if he runs 9.52. He can hold speed better than anyone in the history of the sport (though yes, arguable), and I personally think he needs to run the curve better. He blows through the straight (showing his dominance covering 100m) but it looks like he doesn't blow anyone out of the water on the curve. I do think Bolt will eventually run 9.49 though. I think he's even in the shape now to run 18.99, he's just not aggressive enough out of the blocks.

[SprintsFTW19]

I wounder what it is like to be able to set goals that no one thought was humanly possible and then do it. I would love to see him go sub 19 and sub 9.5

I've wondered that, too. Can you imagine if Bolt had never come along? The world record would probably still be above 9.69. If Asafa Powell or Gay had come out and said that not only were they going to break 9.70 in the 100 and break MJ's record at the 08 Olympics, we would have been skeptical about the possibility of the 100 mark and laughed them out of the Bird's Nest at the thought of a 19.31.

If Powell or Gay said they'd run 9.58 and 19.19 before 2010, we'd say they were cocky and just wanted attention.

I honestly am cautious of ever saying a performance is impossible now. I really can't wait for a Bolt-equivalent to show up in the middle distances. Can you imagine a guy running 1:38 / 3:21 (the point equivalents of bolt's 9.58) in the same year :eek:

[SprintsFTW19]

Very much agree. I can't put a limit on this guy right now. He dropped the WR from 9.76 to 9.58 in a period spanning less than two years... Oh yeah, his first two years running the event. No one would have thought that.



QFE! I was thinking the same exact thing! I think Bolt can go under 19 even if he runs 9.52. He can hold speed better than anyone in the history of the sport (though yes, arguable), and I personally think he needs to run the curve better. He blows through the straight (showing his dominance covering 100m) but it looks like he doesn't blow anyone out of the water on the curve. I do think Bolt will eventually run 9.49 though. I think he's even in the shape now to run 18.99, he's just not aggressive enough out of the blocks.

On him running 18.99 now, I dunno. I think whoever pointed out he'd need to be Fresh was right on. I can see a 19.08-19.13 just because he ran fresh. The turns and starts are honestly going to be a lot harder for him to improve on than anything else. for someone his size, he is already a TON better than he should be at running the turn and having a good start (part of the reason he's so good at the 100 while being 6'5'')

I'm really excited because he wants to hit 9.4 in London, and if he can pull off 9.4/18.9 in 2012...well, what better way to branch off into the 400 and long jump than setting the record in the 100/200 completely out of reach?

[sebcoe]

[quote=Show'EmTheRopes;54091]He can hold speed better than anyone in the history of the sport (though yes, arguable), and I personally think he needs to run the curve better. /quote]

Michael Johnson averaged 9.66 for his 200m WR. That's faster than anyone except Bolt can run for 100m and especially faster than what Johnson could do. If Bolt can come anywhere close to that speed endurance, he'll cruise under 19.

[Show'EmTheRopes]

He can hold speed better than anyone in the history of the sport (though yes, arguable), and I personally think he needs to run the curve better.

Michael Johnson averaged 9.66 for his 200m WR. That's faster than anyone except Bolt can run for 100m and especially faster than what Johnson could do. If Bolt can come anywhere close to that speed endurance, he'll cruise under 19.

Right but Johnson's middle 100m (separating the 200m by 50m-100m-50m segments) was sub-9 if I remember my facts correctly, meaning his last 50 meters were very rough. Bolt also averaged 9.595 per 100m for 200m. I think that is faster than anyone ever too... Oh yeah, faster average than MJ too...

[reee]

I don't understand why people use splits to think someone can run something in the short sprints. Just cuz he can average the same splits in the 200 as he can run in the 100, it's because he can carry his top speed through the last 100, meaning his last 100m of a 200m is faster than his actual 100m.

I ain't saying he can't do it, but using splits is a meaningless analysis unless you're trying to find his top end speed. He is 9.4x at top speed, but can he get to top speed fast enough in the 100m to get there?


I also think we won't see something like that until the WC next season or whenever he is serious about it.

[SprintsFTW19]

I don't understand why people use splits to think someone can run something in the short sprints. Just cuz he can average the same splits in the 200 as he can run in the 100, it's because he can carry his top speed through the last 100, meaning his last 100m of a 200m is faster than his actual 100m.

I ain't saying he can't do it, but using splits is a meaningless analysis unless you're trying to find his top end speed. He is 9.4x at top speed, but can he get to top speed fast enough in the 100m to get there?


I also think we won't see something like that until the WC next season or whenever he is serious about it.

We're actually doing the opposite. we arent using his 200m splits to predict his 100, time, his 100 time is already faster than his 200 splits, we are looking at his 100m time, 200m splits and mjs 200m splits to make predictions on his 200 time =p

[reee]

Sorry, only read OP and the 9.4. Probably misinterpreted what was said anyways.

[xcrunner000]

With a good start and a 1.9 tailwind going sub 9.5 in the 100 & sub 19.00 in the 200 is very possible for Bolt.

[Equinox2100]

basically with any wind more favorable than 1.5, I wouldn't be surprised to see 9.4x or 18.x on the clock.

jesus. 18.x.

maybe I would be surprised.

[xcrunna]

basically with any wind more favorable than 1.5, I wouldn't be surprised to see 9.4x or 18.x on the clock.

jesus. 18.x.

maybe I would be surprised.
18.xx would blow my mind. Every time they show the trackside camera on the straight and you see him galloping by it already looks insane enough. With no one within 20 or 30 meters(realistically) and that type of speed the TV pictures will be phenomenal.

[PEBBLE]

bump